Punjab Congress stalwart Surinder Singla passes away, holiday in govt offices today

Former Punjab finance minister Surinder Singla died on Thursday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

According to family sources, Singla, 78, breathed his last around 6 am at AIIMS following multiple medical complications. He was rushed there at 4 am after he complained of breathlessness.

He had not been keeping well for a few years now and was last month admitted to AIIMS for the treatment of pneumonia. He had only returned home last fortnight, but was not keeping very well, the family said. Singla was a senior state Congress leader and belonged to Samana town in Patiala district.

A former Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Singla last represented the Bathinda assembly constituency and was Punjab’s finance minister during the previous Congress government of Captain Amarinder Singh.

Singla’s cremation would take place at the Lodhi Crematorium at 11 am on Friday. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Both the children are living abroad.

Amarinder described Singla’s demise as a big loss for the Congress. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the chief minister declared a holiday on Friday for all government offices.

Captain also recalled Singla’s development works for his constituency Bathinda, and added that the able administrator and economist had left a void in the Congress and in hearts of the people he served.